Simplified interface for a computer

ABSTRACT

An interface ( 10 ) for retrofitting to a keyboard ( 12 ), the interface for covering the keyboard and having a plurality of jumbo buttons ( 14, 16, 18, 20 ), each jumbo button for covering more than one key of the keyboard, and an associated software program for associating all keys under each jumbo button and optionally disabling keys not under jumbo buttons.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to providing a device and method forinputting data into a computer that is particularly appropriate for useby users with poor coordination, such as young children, the arthriticelderly and the handicapped, for example.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The home computer is a general purpose device that serves differentfamily members in different ways. Young children can learn shapes,colors, counting and other basic skills, and there is a plethora ofcomputer applications and specially designed interfaces for this marketsegment.

The severely physically handicapped can interact with the outside worldvia the computer. By depressing keys using a probe attached to the head,quadriplegics have managed to write poetry and type up theirautobiographies.

Now the standard QWERTY array has about 50 keys. Computer keyboardsinclude the QWERTY keypad, an alphanumeric keypad, cursor control keys,editing keys such as INSERT, DELETE, ALT, TAB, navigational keys such aspage up, page down, print screen and various function keys. Generally,computer keyboards have over a hundred keys. Such a large number of keysis distracting and confusing to both children and the handicapped.

Special keyboards designed for children are known. Such keyboards tendto have a small number of large, easily depressed keys. They may beconnected to the computer instead of to the standard keyboard, or mayplug in to one or other of the peripheral ports, such as in place of theprinter, for example. However, any keyboard that is connected anddisconnected from a computer by plugging it into a computer port andremoving it therefrom regularly, tends to have a short life expectancy.Pins get bent, particularly when a child takes the initiative to plughis/her keyboard in. Any peripheral designed for children will tend tobe regarded as being a toy. Electronic equipment and children are notreally compatible. Food and drink ruin keyboards. In short, specialchildren's keyboards have had limited success.

Another approach is described in Canadian Patent No. 2,194,317 to FisherPrice™ which describes a computer keyboard to aid child users, that sitson a regular keyboard. The Fisher Price™ keyboard covers and blocks outindividual blocks of keys, such as the numeric keypad or the functionkeys to display a reduced selection of keys to the child. However, thebuttons to be depressed by child are regular sized keys for adult users.

Blocking out keys or blocks of keys is not new. U.S. Pat. No. 5,348,405entitled “Computer keyboard key depression inhibitor device” describes akey depression inhibitor device for a computer keyboard which isintended to prevent accidental or inadvertent manual depression of acertain key or combination of keys on a computer keyboard. The devicehas top, side and end walls which form a generally hollow cover adaptedto fit over a single key or over certain combinations of keys in the “F”key section, the page control key section and/or the cursor control keysection of a computer keyboard. The device is constructed to fit snuglyover the key or combination of keys which it is intended to cover and tobe readily removable therefrom, so that it can be installed and removedat will.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,193,924 to Larson, entitled “Cap cover for keyboardkeys” describes a cap cover for keyboard keys for use with a computer orcash register. The capcover is essentially a hollow box adapted to reston base or grid plate. The cap cover prevents keys that are coveredthereby from being depressed.

WO 9400809 entitled “Keyboard Cover”, describes a keyboard cover whichallows the keys of a keyboard to be used. The cover includes portionswhich correspond to the faces of the keys. Inserts are attachable to theportions so as to cover markings on the faces of the keys. The insertsare adapted to include markings which are a substitute for the markingson the faces. Alternatively, the portions themselves may includemarkings which cover and are a substitute for the markings on the facesof the keys.

There are a number of patents that cover the keys of a regular keyboardwith keys that are tactile for Braille readers, e.g. U.S. Pat. No.5,536,170, or which provide lower case letters instead of upper caseletters, or which change the alphabets shown on keys to enable use ofthe keyboard for typing in a different language.

Published US application number US2001/004108 to Lebeau describesdisposable plastic covers for keyboards for use in laboratories and thelike. These will protect the keys, and allow each key to be individuallydepressible.

Published US application number US2003/0206153A1 entitled “Keycap fordisplaying a plurality of indicia” relates to a key cap for use with thekeyboard of a computer. The key cap has a support structure which islarger in size than the activation keys and is adapted to displayindicia read by the individual. The keycap is used to display aplurality of indicia, such as Braille, pictures, etc., for use with akeyboard that interacts with an electronic device, such as a computer.The keycap includes at least one engagement member, for removablyengaging with at least one activation key on a keyboard, and at least afirst support structure for displaying the indicia. The first supportstructure is larger in at least one direction than the activation keyand allows the keycap to display the indicia in a sufficiently largesize to allow the keycap to display, for example, phrases, sentences,musical notation, mathematical expressions, etc. This feature allows thekeycap to be compatible with a large number of software programs used toteach, for example, disabled individuals. The keycap preferably is usedwith a removable overlay containing the plurality of indicia that allowsthe keycap to be easily configured to the user's needs or therequirements of the software program. The keycap includes at least oneattachment member to removably attach the overlay to the keycap. Theattachment member preferably comprises two channels disposed on oppositeends of the first support structure and a second support structure whichis adapted to slidably engage with the two channels to hold the overlayimmobile between the first and second support structures.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,310,608 to Kaply et al. entitled “System and method ofkeyboard configuration for disabled user access” relates to a computersystem for disabled users and groups keys into a compound keycorresponding to a specified command. Essentially a system and methodfor grouping together multiple keys on a keyboard to form compound keysis presented. An exemplary configuration of compound keys describedtherein involves grouping function keys “F1” through “F4” together toform one key, grouping function keys “F5” through “F8” to form a secondkey, and grouping function keys “F9” through “F12” to form a third key.In such an embodiment, actuating any of the keys “F1” through “F4”results in the same input to, the operating system or applicationprogram. A compound key may be assigned to a response such as “yes”,“enter”, or “cancel”. In another embodiment, a group of keys could beassigned to a particular alphanumeric character. The alphanumeric keyscould in this way be grouped into a reduced number of largeralphanumeric compound keys. A separate group of keys (e.g., the numerickeypad) may be used to toggle between different arrangements of thesecompound keys, so that all characters may be accessed. A representationof the keyboard illustrating the key groupings active at a particulartime and the input corresponding to each grouping may be displayed onthe computer's display screen. Alternatively, a template laid over thekeyboard may be used to indicate the compound key groupings,particularly for applications in which the grouping does not changeduring the performance of a task. Although a number of the keys of thekeyboard are programmed to input the same signal, the user is stillpresented with a bewildering array of small keys.

Despite the prior art, there is still a need for a simplified interfacethat is particularly suitable for the young child, and the presentinvention addresses this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an aim of the embodiments to provide an interface for a child, toenable the child to interact with a computer.

It is a further aim, that the interface protects the keyboard of thecomputer.

It is yet a further aim, that the interface is a simple mechanicaldevice that is rugged.

It is still yet a further aim, that the interface may be retrofitted toan existing keyboard.

It is yet a further aim, that the interface is simplified, having aminimum number of keys.

In a first aspect, the present invention is directed to providing aninterface for retrofitting to a computer keyboard, the interface havinga plurality of jumbo buttons, each jumbo button for covering more thanone key of the keyboard.

Typically, the keyboard is a QWERTY keyboard.

Preferably the plurality of jumbo buttons are brightly colored.

Optionally and preferably the plurality of jumbo buttons is marked witheasily recognized symbols.

Optionally the easily recognized symbols are selected from the list ofletters, numbers, shapes and icons.

In one embodiment substantially vertical push levers are coupled to thejumbo buttons for registering keystrokes on the keys under the jumbobuttons by pushing or pulling the vertical push levers.

Such substantially vertical push levers may be transparent and may bealigned in front of a display so that user activates said vertical pushlevers when responding to display.

Typically the display is displayed on a monitor coupled to the computer.

In a second embodiment, the interface is a cover that covers thekeyboard, grouping at least a first plurality of keys into at least onejumbo button such that pressure on any of said plurality of keys has anequivalent effect.

In one embodiment, the cover prevents pressure from being applied to oneor more keys of the keyboard, preventing the one or more keys from beingdepressed.

Alternatively, keys not associated with the at least one jumbo buttonare disabled by a software program, such that pressure thereon is notregistered by the computer.

In a second aspect, the present invention is directed to providing aprogram for programming a QWERTY keyboard such that the more than onekey of the QWERTY keyboard covered by a specific jumbo button of theinterface are programmed in parallel so that any of the keys, covered bythe jumbo button will provide an identical signal to the computer.

Optionally keys of keyboard not covered by jumbo-buttons are disabled bythe software program, such that pressure thereon has no effect oncomputer.

Typically the software program defines a low sensitivity to key strokes,such that only conscious thumping of a jumbo button on the interfacewill register an input and only one single input is registered perthump.

In a third aspect the present invention is directed to a system forconverting a standard QWERTY keyboard into a large button simplifiedkeyboard by providing a software program and an interface as describedhereinabove.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how it may becarried into effect, reference will now be made, purely by way ofexample, to the accompanying drawings.

With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressedthat the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes ofillustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the presentinvention only, and are presented in the cause of providing what isbelieved to be the most useful and readily understood description of theprinciples and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, noattempt is made to show structural details of the invention in moredetail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of theinvention; the description taken with the drawings making apparent tothose skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may beembodied in practice. In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic exploded isometric projection of the interfaceaccording to a first embodiment of the present invention fitted onto astandard computer keyboard;

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross section (side view) of the interface of FIG.1 fitted to the keyboard;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the interface of FIG. 1 fitted to the keyboard;

FIG. 4 is a schematic exploded isometric projection of the interfaceaccording to a second embodiment of the present invention fitted onto astandard computer keyboard;

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross section (side view) of the interface of FIG.4 fitted to the keyboard, and

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the interface of FIG. 4 fitted to the keyboard.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 3, an interface 10 for retrofitting to aQWERTY keyboard 12 is shown. The interface 10 has a plurality of jumbobuttons 14, 16, 18, 20 fitted onto a base 25 such that each jumbo button14, 16, 18, 20 covers more than one key 22 of the QWERTY keyboard 12. Itis a particular feature of the present invention is that a small numberof jumbo buttons 14 (16, 18, 20), in this case merely four buttons, areprovided in a simplified interface 10 that serves as a keyboard that iseasily operated by infants or the disabled.

The present invention teaches away from U.S. Pat. No. 5,348,405 andCanadian Patent No. 2,194,317 to Fisher Price which describemulti-button covers, in that the multi-button thereof is a depressioninhibitor, designed to prevent buttons from being pressed, whereas incontradistinction to the present invention as disclosed herein, keys onthe computer keyboard are coupled together as jumbo buttons.

The plurality of jumbo buttons 14 (16, 18, 20) may be brightly coloredand may be marked with easily recognized symbols such as letters,numbers, shapes and icons. A base plate 42 of the interface 10 isprovided. This may shield the other keys of keyboard 12 preventing theirbeing accidentally depressed. Alternatively, these other keys mayprogrammed (or deprogrammed), so as not to respond to depressions

Referring to FIGS. 4 to 6, in an interface 110 according to a secondembodiment, vertical push levers 115, 117, 119, 121, 123 are coupled tojumbo buttons 114, 116, 118, 120, 122 for registering keystrokes on thekeys 22 under the jumbo buttons 122 (FIG. 5) by pushing or pulling thevertical push levers 123 (115, 117, 119, 121). Although vertical pushlevers 123 (115, 117, 119, 121) may be colored or shaped or decoratedwith pictures or otherwise marked, preferably, as shown in FIG. 6,vertical push levers 123 (115, 117, 119, 121) are transparent and may bealigned in front of a display 130 so that a user can activate thevertical push levers 123 (115, 117, 119, 121) when responding to imageson the display 130. The display 130 will typically be displayed on amonitor 132 coupled to the computer 40 to which the keyboard 12 iscoupled.

The base 10 (110) has a base plate 42 (142) that covers keys on keyboard12, typically preventing them from being depressed. The jumbo buttons 14(114) typically have a spring mechanism 44 (144) that facilitates theirretraction to their raised position. Each jumbo button 14 (114) coversmore than one key 22 on the keyboard 12.

Keyboards 12 for computers are very similar but the different models dovary somewhat. An interface of the present invention will typically lineup each jumbo button thereof with an array of keys therebeneath.Optionally a larger array of keys therebeneath are programmed to respondin the same way, so that all keys actually under the jumbo button may bedepressed by depression on the jumbo button thereover, with other keystherearound being programmed to respond in the same way, but beingprotected from depression by the base plate of the interface thereover.Alternatively, once an interface of the invention is affixed to thekeyboard, the keys under the buttons may be programmed in response to aconfiguration procedure performed by the operator pushing on the jumbobuttons. For example, this may be achieved by a child depressing thebuttons in accordance with instructions provided on the screen or via aspeech synthesizer of the computer to which the keyboard is attached.

The present invention also relates to a program for programming a QWERTYkeyboard such that the more than one key 22 of the QWERTY keyboard 12interfaced by a specific jumbo button 14 (114) of the interface 10 (110)are programmed in parallel so that any of the keys covered by the samejumbo button 14 (114) will provide an identical signal to the computer40.

The software program may define a low sensitivity to key strokes, suchthat only conscious thumping of a jumbo button 14 (114) on the interfacewill register an input and only one single input is registered perthump.

Although described hereinabove with regard to a keyboard and softwareprogram for a child, the invention described herein may be embodied forusers with various disabilities.

The number of jumbo buttons may vary considerably between embodiments.For example the first embodiment as shown has four jumbo buttons and thesecond embodiment has five jumbo buttons. The interface 10 (110)typically includes fixing means 50, such as simple clips, elasticatedbands or string for attaching and holding the interface 10 (110) to thekeyboard 12.

In preferred embodiments, the interface may fully cover the keyboard andits surrounds, providing a large degree of protection thereto, fromspillages and the like. In other embodiments the interface covers onlypart of the keyboard.

Optionally, the interface may be placed randomly over the keyboard andis self-calibrating in that depressing a jumbo button, alerts thesoftware as to which keys of the keyboard are lying there-under. Theunderlying keys under each jumbo button are treated equivalently andassigned the functionality of the jumbo button. The affect of depressingkeys that are not under any jumbo button may be nullified by thesoftware. This is particularly useful, if the interface transmits forcesthrough sections not designated as keys, such as if fabricated from arelatively soft or flexible material such as Styrofoam, cardboard, aflexible matting material and the like.

The shape and structure of the interface, buttons and fixing means mayvary considerably between embodiments. Thus persons skilled in the artwill appreciate that the present invention is not limited to what hasbeen particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope ofthe present invention is defined by the appended claims and includesboth combinations and sub combinations of the various features describedhereinabove as well as variations and modifications thereof, which wouldoccur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the foregoingdescription.

In the claims, the word “comprise”, and variations thereof such as“comprises”, “comprising” and the like indicate that the componentslisted are included, but not generally to the exclusion of othercomponents.

1. An interface for retrofitting to a keyboard, said interface forcovering said keyboard and having a plurality of jumbo buttons, eachjumbo button for covering more than one key of the keyboard wherein theinterface comprises a material that is relatively soft and flexiblecompared to materials of jumbo buttons and keyboard.
 2. The interface ofclaim 1, wherein said keyboard comprises at least a QWERTY keyboard. 3.The interface of claim 1 wherein the plurality of jumbo buttons arebrightly colored.
 4. The interface of claim 1 wherein the plurality ofjumbo buttons is marked with easily recognized symbols.
 5. The interfaceof claim 4 wherein the easily recognized symbols are selected from thelist of letters, numbers, shapes and icons.
 6. The interface of claim 1wherein each of said jumbo buttons of the plurality of jumbo keys has adifferent shape.
 7. The interface of claim 1 having substantiallyvertical push levers coupled to said jumbo buttons, for registeringkeystrokes on the keys under the jumbo buttons by pushing or pulling thevertical push levers.
 8. The interface of claim 7 wherein thesubstantially vertical push levers are transparent and may be aligned infront of a display so that user activates said vertical push levers whenresponding to the display.
 9. The interface of claim 8 wherein saiddisplay is displayed on a monitor coupled to the computer.
 10. Theinterface of claim 1, comprising a cover that covers the keyboard,grouping at least a first plurality of keys into at least one jumbo keysuch as pressure on any of said plurality of keys has an equivalenteffect.
 11. The interface of claim 10, wherein said cover preventspressure from being applied to one or more keys of the keyboard,preventing the one or more keys from being depressed.
 12. A program forprogramming a computer keyboard such that the more than one key of thecomputer keyboard interfaced by a specific jumbo button of the interfaceof claim 1 are programmed in parallel so that any of said keys, coveredby the jumbo button will provide an identical signal to the computer.13. The software program of claim 12 wherein the software programdefines a low sensitivity to key strokes, such that only consciousthumping of a jumbo button on the interface will register an input andonly one single input is registered per thump.
 14. The software programof claim 12 wherein the computer keyboard is a QWERTY keyboard.
 15. Thesoftware program of claim 12 wherein keys not associated with thespecific jumbo button of the interface are disabled, such that pressurethereon has no effect on the computer.
 16. The interface of claim 10,wherein keys of the keyboard not associated with the at least one jumbobutton are disabled by a software program such that pressure thereon isnot registered by the computer.